Diabetes is a very common cause of peripheral neuropathy and the accompanying paresthesia and numbness in your feet, legs and arms. Peripheral neuropathy is an uncomfortable and often painful condition that, left untreated, may lead to disability and other serious consequences. Don’t wait for that to happen if you have any of the symptoms associated with neuropathy. When your peripheral neuropathy is due to peripheral artery disease associated with diabetes, call Dr. Sergei Sobolevsky at the Downtown Vein & Vascular Center, located in Brooklyn for a consultation.
What Is Neuropathy?
In general, neuropathy refers to nerve malfunction that typically causes paresthesia, which usually feels as a prickly, burning, tingling sensation, pain or numbness. Damage to the nerves that send information from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body leads to peripheral neuropathy. This condition often affects your legs, feet or hands, but it can also affect bodily functions and organs.
If you have diabetes and experience leg pain, arm pain, numbness or pins and needles in your arms or legs, your symptoms may be caused by peripheral artery disease or PAD,which should be evaluated by an expert in the field of vein and vascular conditions. The best choice in the Brooklyn area is the Downtown Vein & Vascular Center, serving all of Brooklyn and greater New York City.
What Are the Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy?
The symptoms you experience depend on what type of nerves have been damaged.
Categories of nerves include:
- Autonomic nerves. These nerves control the body’s automatic functions, such as your heart rate and digestion.
- Motor nerves. These are the nerves that control the movement of your muscles.
- Sensory nerves. These nerves receive and translate external sensations such as touch, temperature and pain.
When your autonomic nerves are dysfunctional, the symptoms you may experience include:
- Digestive problems
- Urinary tract problems
- Sweating excessively or not enough
- Intolerance to heat
- A drop in blood pressure
Peripheral neuropathy can have an effect on a single nerve or several nerves at once.
Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include:
- Paresthesia, which is the sensation of pins and needles, tingling or burning
- Numbness which is especially concerning when it involves the feet of a diabetic patient
- Coordination problems that may lead to losing balance and falling
- Muscle weakness
Neuropathy can be very painful, and the pain may be sharp, burning or jabbing. You may feel extremely sensitive to touch, or you may have difficulty distinguishing temperature changes. Leave your diagnosis in the hands of an experienced team of experts in NYC.
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Expert Advice
Dr. Sobolevsky provided expert advice and treatment during my spider vein procedure. He was professional, friendly, and made me feel at ease throughout the process. I would highly recommend him to anyone seeking vein treatment.
What Causes Neuropathy?
Neuropathy has many possible causes. The most common cause of peripheral neuropathy is diabetes, since high blood sugar levels can damage nerves throughout the body. It’s now believed that peripheral neuropathy in the lower extremities is caused by poor vascular supply to the nerves due to atherosclerosis of small vessels associated with diabetes. This seems to be the reason that many people with diabetes lose feeling in their feet or lower legs.
Other causes of neuropathy include:
- Autoimmune conditions. Several different autoimmune conditions may trigger neuropathy, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren’s syndrome. Guillain Barre is an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks the nerves.
- Vitamin deficiencies. Proper nutrition is important for good nerve health, and deficiencies in B vitamins such as B1, B6 and B12 can lead to nerve damage.
- Some viral or bacterial infections can damage nerves. Hepatitis B and C, Lyme disease, the Epstein Barr virus, shingles and Hansen’s disease, which is formerly known as leprosy all can damage your nerves.
- Alcohol abuse. Heavy consumption of alcohol over a long period of time contributes to nutrient and vitamin deficiencies and nerve damage.
- Circulation problems. Vascular disorders that cause a lack of adequate blood flow to the nerves can cause peripheral nerves to misfire, leading to neuropathy.
- Toxic substances. Exposure to dangerous chemicals, such as heavy metals or industrial chemicals, are damaging to the body and your nervous system.
If you suffer from non-healing ulcers, have pain in your legs and feet and have peripheral neuropathy, contact the Downtown Vein & Vascular Center to schedule an appointment with the best vascular doctor for a thorough medical evaluation.
I am Dr. Sergei Sobolevsky, a leading specialist in endovascular medicine. Having performed over 25,000 procedures throughout my career, I bring decades of experience in vascular and interventional radiology to my practice. I obtained my Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 1997 and completed my specialty clinical training in vascular and interventional radiology at Harvard University.
My dedication to excellence in patient care has been recognized through accolades such as being named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor and inclusion in the Top Doctors New York Metro Area lists for 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. With licenses in multiple states, I have also shared my expertise through presentations at various institutions in the US and abroad.
More About Dr. SobolevskyDowntown Vein Treatment Center
480 Court Street, Ste 101
Brooklyn, NY 11231
(718) 787-5559